Bangladesh Police Get OK to Shoot at Will

Published 8:00 pm, Thursday, May 29, 2003

Bangladesh has authorized police to shoot at will as part of its anti-crime campaign, an official said Friday after reporting more than 350 deaths to gang violence in the past two months.

"We have asked our officers not to hesitate to open fire if they are attacked by gangsters," senior police official Ashraful Huda said.

The order was effective since Wednesday.

Huda said the country's criminal law allows police "the right to shoot on sight" while pursuing criminals. "We are resuming the provision which has rarely been used."

Gangsters killed at least six police officers in gun battles this month.

Despite concern about rising crimes, some Bangladeshis feared the measures could cause more problems.

"Such powers have the danger of being abused," said Ozair Farooq, a prominent lawyer. "No one should be punished before conviction by a court."

Crimes such as murder, robbery and extortion have caused worries for Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's government in recent months.

Last October, Zia deployed army troops after criticism that her government failed to stop the criminal gangs often linked to political parties.

The troops were withdrawn in January after police and human rights groups reported the deaths of 44 suspects in custody. Authorities attributed many of the deaths to heart failure, but relatives said the suspects had been tortured.

Zia's government has granted troops immunity from being prosecuted for killings during the crackdown or alleged human rights violations.

Most of 10,000 people detained during the crackdown were released. Many of the suspects were from Zia's governing Bangladesh Nationalist Party.